Improvement in machines for setting- and distributing type



' 9 Sheets -Sheet 1. w. H. HOUSTON. v

v q I Setting and Distributing Type.

75,681+ Patented March 17, 1868.

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9 Sheets Sheet 2.

W. H. HOUSTON. Setting and Distributing Type.

Pa tented March 17', 1868.

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v 9 Sheets-Sheet 3. I W; H. HOUSTON.

,Setting and Distributing Type. No 75,681. 7 Patented March17, 1868.

, N. PETERS. 'Photwblmlgmphcn Washlngi n. D C.

9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

w. H. HOUSTON.

Setting and Distributing Type.

Patented March 17, 186 8.

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9 SheetsSheet 5. W. H. HOUSTON.

Setting and Distributing Type.

Patented March 17, 1868.

, ssh t-Sh t6. W.'H. HOUSTON. 698 Be Setting and Distributing Ty e.

Patented March 17, 1868.

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Patented March 17, 1868.

ii'mmwior 3min) amm- 1 9 Sheets Sheet '8. W. HOUSTON- 1 Setting and Distributing Type. No. 75,881. I 1 I 8 Patented March 17, 1888.

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9 Sheds-Sheet 9.

W. H. HOUSTON. Setfing and Distributing Type; No. 75,681.

Patented March 17, 1868.

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UNIED STATES FATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM H. HOUSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SETTING AND DISTRIBUTIN GTYPE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patentv No. 75,681, dated March 17, 1868.

distributing mechanism, taken in the plane of thelinea' w of Fig. 1, and looking in thedirec. tion of the arrow. Fig.3 is a partial. longitudinal sectidn of the same at the line y y of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a rearview of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the stop-motion, the plane of section beingindicated by the line z z of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section a of the distributing mechanism, taken atthe forwarding and trial rack; detached. 'Fig. 8 isa transverse vertical section of the-mechanism for composing or setting type, taken at *the line yyot' Fig. 1,"and'looking in the direction of the arrow. "Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal section of the same, taken at the line 2 z of Fig. 8, and looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 10, a transverse vertical section at the line a a of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the entire machine taken from the front; Fig. 12, a perspective view of the machine taken from the rear.

The detail figures will be referred to hereafter. t

The same letters indicate like parts in all the figures except Figs. 11 and 12.

My present invention relates to improvements in the machine for composing and dist-ributing types described in and secured by Letters Patent of the United States granted Us); 511e, and hearing date the 31st day of March, 1 7;

In my said original and patented invention, as in the present, thetwo operations of composing or settingtypes and of distributing the types are separate and distinct, but necessary the chew the other, and "the operation of distributing really precedes the composing Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the line as m of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a plan of the operation, because by the distributing operation the several letters and characters are arranged in separate channels in a type oase, therebeing one such channel for each letter of the alphabet, character, quadrat, space, &c., and after the distribution has been effected in the said channels the case is transferred from the distributing to the composing part of the machine. The type-case, for convenience of handling, may be made in two or more parts which will readily fit, so that they can be properly placed and adjusted' In my said original machine the column of types to be distributed was placed on a galley, and each line in succession pushed out later ally, and on the same plane, to be distributed. This was found to be inconvenient, because in What is termed solid matterthat is, when thin strips of metal, termed leads, are not interposed between the lines of typesthe types of the line that was being pushed out were liableto catch against the edges of the types of the next adjacent line, and thus im-.

pede the operation of the machine. This difli culty Ihave avoided by one part of my present invention, which consists in com biuing, with the galley and mechanism for pushing out theline of types to be distributed, what I denominate a lifting mechanism, by which the line of types to be distributed is lifted up above the plane of the column, and by a motion in the direction of the length of the types, so that the line being lifted can be pushed laterally without danger of catching.

The mode of construction and application of this part of my invention is represented in Figs.

2, 3, and 6 of the accompanying drawings, in which A is the galley on which the column of types to be distributed is placed, and in which they are pressed forward toward the distributing end by a follower, B. This follower has a rod, e,'which slides in a guide, f, and a cord, g, is attached above. and to the rear end of the rod, passes around a grooved wheel, 2', and the other end is attached to a spring, h, on the back of the follower; the oflice of the said spring being to keep the cord distended and permit the wheel to slip whenever its moiton is greater than the motion required to be imparted to the column of types. The said wheel 0' is on a shaft, j, provided at one end with a ratchet-wheel, k, which is operated by a pawl,

I, connected to a lever, 1*, which is drawn up to lift the pawl by the tension of a spring, and forced down to push forward the column of types by a tappet, 1. on a shaft, (1, which makes one revolution for every line of type which is delivered to be distributed.

When the column of types is advanced, it is forced forward until the forward line strikes against a gage-plate, d, at the front end of the galley, by which theforward motion is stopped. Between the said gage-plate and the front end of the bed of the galley there is an open space,

d, (see Fig. 3,) equal to the thickness ofa line of types and a lead, and in this space the lifter Djs located. It is a plateadapted to slide accurately, but freely, in ways (1, (see Fig. 2,) so as to work in the said space. When let down to its lowest position, its upper edge is slightly below the plane of the upper surface of the bed of the galley to receive the forward line of types to be lifted.

The lifter is connected by a joint-link, d, with one arm of an elbowlever, 0, the other arm of which is acted upon by a cam, 41, on the shaft 0, which cam is so formed as to depress the lifter at the time required, and hold it down while the column of types is being advanced, and permit it to be drawn up to lift the foremost line of types by a. weight, (7 (see Fig. 2,) connected with the said elbow-lever by a cord, 11, passing over a pulley, d". When lifted up, the types of the line are held in position by two parallel plates, of which the gageplate is one, thus forming a channel-way, d", (see Figs. 1. and 3,) in which the line of types can slide as they are pushed along to be delivered one by one to the distributing mechanism. This operation is performed by a follower, a, fitted to slide in the said channel-way. It isattached to a rod, '5 and is pushed forward by a weight, 1', (see Fig. 2,) connected with the rear end of the said rod by a cord, 17, passing over a pulley, 2', so that the force is always acting to push the line of types toward the dc livery end.

It is necessary to the operation of this part of the mechanism that all the motions hereinabove described should be suspended during the delivery ofthe types ofeach line, and again started when a line has been delivered. To

to an arm, h, on the shaft 0, and this dog has a projecting arm, g", so that at the end of one revolution of the said shaft, which is sufficient to give the operations derived from it, the arm g ofthe said dog strikes a stop, (1 which dis engagesit from the ratchet-teeth of the hub of thepulley, thereby unclutching the shaft,which stops while the pulley continues to turn. This stop (Z is on a lever, (Z which is held back in the position to stop the dog by the tension of a spring, it. A rod, a is attached by one end to the rod i of the follower u,,which pushes the line of types, and by the other end to a lever, '10, which is acted upon by a cam, 11, on the shaft (l, for the purpose of drawing back the said follower, to permit another line of types to be lifted and on this rod a there is an adjustable stop, 0, so set that as the last type of a line is being deliveredstrikes against the lever 11 of the stop (1 and draws the said stop away from the springdog g, which immediately springs into one of the ratchet-teeth and clutches the driving-pulley c to the shaft (1,

which is thereby set in motion to impart the motions reqnired-that is to say, to draw back the follower u, liberate the lever (1 that it may be drawn back by its spring to put the stop al in position to unclutch the shaft (J at 1 the end of one revolution, depress the lifter D, and operate the follower B to push forward the column of types, and then to liberate the lever 0, which has depressed the lifter, that it may be operated by the weight (7 to lift the next line of types; and the said shaft 0 during its revolution also performs another operation,

to be described in connection with the next i of type, draw down and discharge the lead.

And this part of my invention also consists in combining with such a lip on the lifter a slide under the galley and below the column of types, to hold up the lead until the lifter begins to descend, and which is moved out of the way to permit the discharge of the lead as the lifter begins to descend.

And this part of my said invention also consists in combining, with the said lip on the face of the lifter, a plate fitted to the faceof the lifter, so that it can be put on under the lip, that the same lifter may be used for distributing either solid or leaded matter.

On the face of the lifter next to the galley there is a projecting lip, 19, (see Fig. 3,) placed at such an elevation that when the lifter has lifted a line of types the said lip catches over the upper edge of the lead, when leaded matter is to be distributed,so that when the lifter descends, preparatory to lifting another line, the lead is drawn down and discharged.

And there is a plate, q, (see Fig. 3,) termed the lead-liberating slide, adapted to slide in contact with the under side of the bed of the galley, the iorward partof which is bended and extends slightly beyond that edge of the bed of the galley which is next to the lifter, to hold up and prevent the lead from falling until the lifter descends. The said plate is' held in that position by the tension of a spring, r, and just as the lifter has descended. the said spring-catch flange at the other. The next part of my said invention relates% to the ilJBOllHlliSlDyWhlOh takes the types, one; ,by one, from the line which hasbeen elevated, 1 and delivers them to the distributing mechanism, and as the types 'vary considerably in thickness this part of my said. invention is so organizedthat by its mode of operation it. is selfiadapting to the varying thicknessof the;

item. any suitablemoton,

plateis. drawn backto permit" the lead to be discharged, thisoperation being performed by v arcanns, on the shaftO.whiehstrikes the end ofa; lever. r connected with the said leadliberating slide, and the cam isof suchform I that it liberates the leverto permit thesli-de to be: restored so soon as the lead drops out;

When, as bel'orestated, the machine is to be the lip p. This p1ate=is made of a thickness equal totheprojection of the lip,and secured t ment whichl. terma hammer, not because it to the lifter by a hooked lip at one end and types. Opposite elevatedthere iswhat may be stermed amovable check,j, which hasits line of motionto- Ward and from and inthe line of the channel; way inwhichxthe line of types is moved to be delivered. It is connected with the'frame: of a part of the distributer by means of screws tapped into the saidframe andpassing through} line of types is pushed forward the foremost .typeis brought in contact with the end of this check, which controls the advance of the line.

of types until the thicknessof the foremost atypeshallhave been ascertained. by the meeh an sm- 6,.) projecting from one side of the plate j. of

There is a stud,j", (see Figs. 1 and the check, and connected therewithby a screw passing through aslot for the convenience of 7 adj nstment,:amlthis stud rests againstthe face of a lever, is", by which the motions of the check in 'place when the check is required to he stopped and heldin place. in twoyparts k and k controls the cheek through. the part k iSQOD nectcd about the middle of its length by a ful- This lever is made The lever is, which crum-pinflcf, (see Figs. 6 and 6 with the other part, 10 its inner end turning on a'fulcrum-pi'n, kfl'and its outer end receiving motion from a cam, W, on a shaft, E, which receives motion The said lever ishcld to the by the tension of a spring, n

face of the cam The object of making the said lever .in two parts, as described, is that the one cam at each revolution slots 9' (see Fig. 6,) in a'plate,j which con; stitutesithe bodyof the said checln As the of-the shaft shall give the range of motion. required for. the back movement of the check sufficient for the delivery of the thickest type, and so that the part 76 which controls the check may be locked to the position required for the deliveryof any thickness of type less than the thickest, While that part k of the lever which is actedinpon by the cam continues to make its full range of motion. I A

. The time when the checking part of the lever shall be locked is determined by another mechanism. v w

. At the lower end of? the channel-way inwhich the line otttypes travels, there is an instruis required to strike heavy blows, but because it strikes a series of rapid but gentle blows against the foremost type in the line, and. at right angles to the line of motion of the line of types, to. determine when ,such type can pass bythe end of? the gage-plate d, forming the rear side of the channel-way. This hammer 0* is on theupper end of an arm, 0 ofa rock n l t it i n t i l shalft,o",.(see Fig-6,) which has another arm, totheline of typesgwhich has been 0, bent at right angles, the end of which is formed with apintleiittedto a hole in a lever, q, that is borne down by a spring, 07, onto the periphery of a cam, p on the shaft E, which team is formed, as represented in Fig. 6, to give the required vibratory motions tothe hammer;

and the arm 0 of the rock-shaft 0 is con- Dectedito the lever g by anotherspring, 0 so that when the hammer comes into contact with the type before it has been sniiiciently advanced, to be moved laterally, the hammer will be Stoppedwhile the cam continues to lift the levee. The camis so formed as by each revolution to give to the hammer a series of vibrations, eachisufficient in range to carry the foremost type. a little out ofthe line of the channel-way inwhichrthe line of types is travelingand to carryit. partly between the end of the gage-plate d and the check j, and

finally to give it one vibration of sufficient range .to transfer the type to the distributor; but as the lever q which eommunicatesmo- .tion fromthe cam to the rocleshaft oi the hammer, is, connected by. a spring, so that it can be moved by the cam when the hammer is pre- I vented, from moving to an equal extent. by the yielding of thesprings o, it follows that at each vibration the hammer is stopped by the type, until it (the type) has beenpermittell by the check to. pass by the end of the gageplate (I, and then the. hammer,.heing no longer checked by the type, moves it a little out of line, as before stated, where it is held bythe check partly against the end of the channelw-ay and the next type in theline, and then, if such type be of less thickness than the thickest, "the hammer will continue its series of short vibrations until the last and greatest. projection on the cam gives it the full range of motion to deliver the type to the distributer.

The motion for locking the part 7c of the checklever is controlled by the hammer. The

check j at each operation is permitted to recede a little, to permit the line of types to advance, and this continues so long as the vibrations of the hammer are checked by the type; but so soon as the type can pass by the end of the gage-plate d, which depends upon the thickness of the type, and the hammer is permitted to move far enough to carry the type, as before stated, between the check and the end of the gage-plate,the dog 0 before named, is thrown into one of the ratchet-teeth of the rack on the back face of the check-lever, to lock it and hold the check in place, to hold the type in place until the hammer makes the last of its series of "ibrations, which last vibration has the required range of motion to deliver the type to the distributer. This locking operation is performed in the following manner: The dog 0 is on the upper end of a lever, 0 thelower end of which turns on a fulcrumpin, 0 To this lever is hinged a rod, 0 which has a shoulder or oflset that bears against a stop, 0 (see Fig. 6*,) on the frame, and it is provided with a helical spring, 0 attached to the galley-frame in a diagonal direction, so that its line of tension is oblique, to pull the dog into contact with the rack of teeth on the check-lever, and also to draw the rod 0 toward it, that its shoulder may rest against the stop 0 The position of the rod a" relatively to the arm of the hammer is such that so long as the vibrations of the hammer are checked by the foremost type the arm of the hammer will not strike the said rod; but as soon as the hammer is permitted to move the type the arm of therock-shaft which car: ies the hammer strikes the rod c and liberates its shoulder from the stop 0 so that the spring may draw I the dog into the rack of the check-lever to lock the check. So soon as the type has been delivered to the distributer the lever 0 is allowed to be drawn down by the spring, returning the check to its original position, and, by means ofan inclined plane immediately above the rack on the upper part of the lever, forcing backand latching the lever 0". The number of vibrations to be given to the hammer for each complete operation required for the delivery of a type, relatively to the receding motion of the check, should be such that there shall be at least one vibration while the check recedes a distance equal to the thickness of the thinnest type, and that the range of motion of the check required for the passage of the thickest type shall take place within the series of vibrations of the hammer. 1 have found a series of twelve vibrations of the hammer sutlicient.

The next part of my said invention relates to improvements in that part of the mechauism by which the types are selected and each carried to and deposited in its appropriate the construction and operation of the machine as at present organized.

The types are all made with one or more notches on one side and such notch or notches are made at different distances from the end and differently arranged in the several types, so that they shall not be alike in any two types. By reason of this variation any one type can be distinguished from all the others. This has long since been known as a means of distinguishing types. The types are all of the same width, and of different thicknesses, as is well known; and the said notches are formed on one of the faces of what I term the width. This will be understood by any one acquainted with types.

As the types are delivered by the mechanism last above described, they are all delivered with the notched face foremost, and with the lower end resting on a bed-plate,y Above this bed-plate there is a rack, F, formed with as many compartments as there are different characters of types to be distributed, with a few extra ones for convenience. And each compartment is formed with parallel sides 7' and of the width of a type to slide in freely but accurately, the front ends of the said racks being slightly beveled that the types may enter freely. And from one side of each rack a pin or pins project, corresponding with the notch or notches in the face of the type which is intended to pass into such rack.

From this it will be seen that no type can passinto anyone rack except the one for which it is intended.

After a type has passed into its appropriate rack, it is disposed of as will be hereinafter described.

Now, as each type is delivered, as before stated, to this distributing mechanism, it must be presented for trial in succession to each rack until it comes to the one fitted to receive and permit it to pass. Opposite to the said series of racks there is a series of plungers, t (see Figs. 1 and 7,) one such for each rack, and of a suitable form to enter freely. These plungers are all mounted, side by side, in a a frame, If, (see Fig. 2,) which, for convenience of giving access to the mechanism below it, can be readily attached and detached from the main frame of the machine. Each plunger is fitted to slide longitudinally in suitable ways in the said frame, and forced toward and into its corresponding rack by a helical spring, (1 and they all have a shoulder or pin, a, on the under side, at the rear end and back of the frame, which rests against abar, f firmly secured to the upper ends of two rockingbars, h

(see Figs. 2 and 4,) which, by the tension of the said springs (1 are held against two cams, y y, onthe shaft E, by which all the plungers are sim-ulta neously drawn out of the racks and far enough from the front ends of the partitions between the racks to permit the thick est type to pass freely between the faces of the plungers and the ends of the said partitions.

tribliter.

At the time a type is delivered from a line, as

before stated, the plungers are advancing. and

a slight projection or lip on that side of the.

first plunger which is nearest to the check is hearing against the type which is being delivcred, so that it is delivered by the hammer' prevent it from falling back as thehammer recedes, and it is preventedfrom falling forward by the outside partition of the first rack andfas it is inclined laterally toward the face of the plunger by reason of the inclination of the machine, it is there held in the required position until the next operation. At this part of theoperation the type, is back of the for ward end of the partitions,and before it can be carried forward and presented to the several racks'in succession, until it findsand enters its appropriate one, it must be moved forward of the front end of the partitions.- For this purpose there is a series of followers, 8 corresponding to the plungers, but opposite to their faces. They are mounted in a frame, H,

I adapted to slide on "top of the racks 4. They are fitted toslide,each separately, in the said frame. and provided with springs, the tension of which keeps them all in .line, but free to yield backward when striking an impediment. The frame H of the followers is attached by its ends to the rear endsof two rods, a 11 (see Figs. 1 and 6,) adapted to slide in suitable bearings, and these rods are connected by joint links y to two rocking-arms, a which are borne/by two springs, y, (see Fig. 1,) against the peripheries of two cams, w (Figs. 1 and 6,)on the shaft E, so that by the operation of the said cams the followers are advanced until they come in contact with the types which may be lying against the faces'of thev plungers; and as the followers can yield by reason of their springs they adapt themselves to any thickness of types which are then carried forward of the'front end of the partitions by the forward movement in respdjnd with the racks, except that they are not so deep. They are bothconnected by their ends to two frames, J, one at each end, which frames are hinged to the upper ends of two rocking'frames, y andthe-two rods 10 of the frame H of the followers 8 pass through and slide in the frame J of the said combs I.

To return to the type,which has been described as having been delivered to the dis I When last referred to, it was held between the first plungert and the first follower 8 and, by the motion of these.last described, carried into theffirst slot of the two these two slots by the spring-pressure of the follower. The'next thing to be done is to move the two comb plates and the followers laterally,

the first rack, 1", which is effected by moving thetwo comb-plates and the frame Hof the rack and one of the partitions. This movement is efiecled by a faceeam, 12 (see Fig. 4,) on the shaft E, which acts on a stud, l projecting downward from a plate, J attached to the two frames J, which carry the two combs; the said stud being held against the face of the cam by a spring, the tension of which carries whenpcrmitted by the form of a cam. In case of any obstruction to the motions in one direction, either by a type out of place or from clutch-the shaft from the driving-pulley, by means to be hereinafter described 3 and if the obstruction takes place when moving in the opposite direction, the same kind of relief is afforded, by having the said stud 1. connected with the plate J by a screw, 1 passing through a slot and connecting the said stud with the said plate by a spring, I, (see Fig. 2,) so that the combs and followers can stop until the shaft is unclntched. In this way all danger of injury to the types or themechanism is prevented.

The type having been brought, as above stated, in line with the first rack, is then lIlOXLd toward the rack, and a short distanceinto it, by the return movement of the plungcrs and followers; and if the type is not of the kind intended for that rack, thefront face of it not having the notch or notches adapted to the position of the pin or pins in the side of the rack, it is stopped the plunger yielding by its spring, the series of operations already dethe next slot of the comb-plates, which, in the meantime have been returned to their former position with the second slot in linewith' the proper place, and so on from rack to rack.nn-

;it is carried to a suiiieient distance by the plunger, to be delivered in the appropriate channel-way of the case, as will be hereinafter described.

ism to be distributed, so that a series of types is carried at the same time,-and each by a. 1 mode of operation such as above described.

I To stop the mechanism of the distributer in case of any impediment, as above indicated, one of the frames J of the combplates' I has an arm, 2d, the outer end of which is forked and fitted to a wrist-pin, u in one arm of a irocker, t (see Fig. 4,) which rocker has two :arms extending one above and the other; he-

comb-plates I, and held against the bottom of tobring the type opposite to and in line withv followers a distance equal to the width of one the said parts oackto their original positionany other cause, the spring will yield and um" scribed take place to shift the said type into first rack, so that the next series of operations f shifts the said type in line with and presents. it to the second rack, to ascertain if that isits til it is brought to the proper rack, into which Atv each series of operations one, type is delivered to the distributing mechanlow the shaft, and this rocker is alternately rocked in opposite directions by the vibratory motion of the comb-frames. And the outer ends of the rocker-arm are so located that the one or the other of them will be within the plane of motion of the arm of a clutch-dog,p pivoted to the shaft. This clutch-dog 11 by the tension of its spring, clutches the drivingpuiley m (which receives motion from any suitable motor) to the shalt E, from which all the motions of the distributer are derived. And in the rotation of the shalt E, when the clutch-dog approaches the upper arm of the rocker, it will pass freely without unclutching the shaft from the pulley, if the comb-frame has completed its motion in one direction and so with reference to the other arm of the rocker, if the comb-plate has completed its movement in the opposite direction; but in either case, if the comb-frame has been stopped by any impediment when moving in either direction, the dog will strike one of the arms of the rocker and unclutch the shaft from the driving-pulley, and it will remain unclutched until the impediment shall have been removed and the comb frame permitted to complete its motion, and then the shaft will be clutched and started again.

The next operation'to which the types are subjected is to deliver them from the racks into the several channel-ways of the case. For this purpose the bottom plate 3 (see Fig. 2) of the racks is cut out at the back to form channels or passages at the back of the racks for the types to fall through into the corresponding channel-way of the type-case K, which is placed on a sustaining-frame, K. As before stated, the case may be made all in one; but, for convenience of moving, I prefer to make it in two or more sections.

The back of the passages 5, through which the types fall into the .case, is formed by a plate, l, (see Fig. 2,) which extends the whole length of the series of racks. It is attached to the upper end of two rods, 8 hinged at their lower ends by two arms, s ofa rockshat't, 8 from which it receives an up-anddown movement, and it is held in'position against the back edge of the bottom plate of the racks by the tension of the helical springs 8 attached to them and to the arms 5- of the rock-shaft s. The passages s for the types are made of sutlicient size for the free passage of the types, except the thickestthat is, so that the thinnest types will not turn-and for the thickest types the said passages are made larger by cutting into the front face of the said back plate Z. In this way the front faces of the said passages are all in line with each other and with the front end of the channelways of the case, into which the distributed types are to be delivered. As a type drops from its rack into the corresponding channelway it must be pushed back a suflicient distance to receive another. To efiect this there is a hole in the front plate 8 of the case leading into each channel-way, and to these holes is fitted a series of pins, :0 projecting from a plate, an", attached to two rods, .40 that slide in the standards at of the frame, and these rods are provided each with a spur, at, which is borne by a spring, 0 against a cam, 2, (shown in the drawings, see Fig. 2,) on the shaft E to reciprocate the said plate with its pins. The movements are so timed that this plate is moved by the cams 2 (one only shown in the drawings) that its pin m may push back the types in the case before the plungers of the distributer carry other types into the racks, that these may fall into the channel-ways ofthe case. As soon as the types are so pushed back, the plate I, back of the passages i, is let down in front to hold them back as the pins recede, and before the said plate m and its pins advance to push back other types the said back plate 1 must be lifted above the top of the types in the case to permit those last received to pass under its lower edge. In this way the said plate 1 answers the double purpose of forming the back of the type-passages, and of a guard to 'hold back the types in the case alter they have been pushed out of the way by the plate at and its pins. The rock-shalt 8 which operates this back plate Z, receives motion from a cam, j, on the shaft E, which cam acts on an arm, as, that turns freely on the said rock-shaft, but which has a brace, 2, that ex tends to, and is held against. an arm, 2, of the rock-shaft by a spring, 2", so that, when this loose arniac is borne down by the cam, it draws the arm z forward by the tension of the said spring, and as the said arm is fast on the rock-shaft s the back platel will be thereby lifted; but if it should meet any impediment, such as a type in a wrong position, the loose arm x will yield by its spring-connection to permit the cam to move,'while the arm 2, rock-shaft, and back plate l remain still; and when so stopped the upper end of the arm 2 will be in the line of motion of a stop, 2 projecting downward from the comb-carriage, which will be thereby stopped; and, as before stated, the stoppage of this carriage in any part of its range of motion will, by the mechanism before described,

unclutch the shaft E from the driving-pulley and stop the mechanism. The loose arm at of the rock-shaft s is borne against the cam j by the tension of the springs. s, before described, which extends from the rod 8 of the back plate to the short arms 8 of the rock- 'shaft 8 and when the back plate is being. I

drawn down to get in front of the types in the case, if its lower edge should meet an impediment, such as a type out of place, it will be stopped, the said springs yielding slightly, and the other arm of the rock-shaft will be stopped in the line of motion of the stop 2" on the combcarriage, by which the shaft will be unclutched from the driving-pulley, in like manner as before stated.

If the types are not clean or dry when carlllllllllllllll ried to the hack of the racks,they are liable two'rods u of the plunger-frame J, and this shaft is provided with another arm, L which isacted upon by a spring to depress the said hammer the moment the plungers begin to recedc, and by a cam, L, on the shaft E, to lift it, and control its downwardmotion.

The first and second followers, s above described, instead of being fitted to slide in their frame H, like the others, are each on the end of a spring-lever, H, pivoted to the followerframe. This variation,however, is merely a matter of convenience in the mode of construction, so as to avoid the necessity of extending one end of the follower-frame too near to the channel-way d", in which the line of types travel to be delivered to the distributer. And as the first of the series of racks r can be but a short distance from the line of types to be delivered, and the type-case cannot be conveniently placed near enough to that end of the machine to receive types from the first end of the channel-ways, and that with a long line of types so inclined it was very difficult to straighten them, and as the lower end of the forward type is required to be close up to the forward end of each channel-way whenthe case is transferred to the composing-machine, for reasons to be hereinafter stated, it became important to remed y this defect. The reason Why thetypes assumed t is inclined position was that at each operation the forward type of each line was pushed back a little more than the thickness of one type, to leave sufficient space. between the front end of the channel-way and the back plate Z, by which the types are held back, that there might be sufficient spacefor the next type to drop in freely, and as the case is inclined, the moment the said back plate is lifted the upper ends of the forward types tip forward against the front end of the case, and when pushedby the pins as that operation not only moves back the upperend, but the lower end is also moved back alittle until theyall assume the objectionable inclined position referred to. There is no difficulty, in restoring a short line of types to an erect position, but when the line becomes long it is verydifficult, if not impossible, toget them in the position required by the composing-machine, because of the surface-friction of the several types, which increases with the force applied to push them into an erect position. I prevent the difficulty above stated by my present invention, which consists in combining with each channel-way of the case, and attached to the side thereof, and at a short distance from the front end, a thin spring, a", (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the tension of which, pressing against one side of the type near the upper end, and binding them against the other side of the channel-way, prevents the line of types so acted upon by the said spring and those back from tipping forward with those immediately in front; so that only a few of the forward types in each channel-way can assume the said inclined position; and, by

pushing against the rear end ofeach line these are readily brought to an erect position. The type having been arranged in the channel-ways by the distrihuter, as described, the case K is transferred to the composing-machine by sliding it upon inclined'ways, A, and there securing it in place by the lower, section A of the'said ways, which springs up in front of the lower end of the case. Each channel-way of the case is provided with a follower, a, which slides freely behind and against each line of types, and these followers are operated to push the lines forward with the foremost type of each line against the front end of the; chanhel-way by mechanism which is the same as in my said patent herein recited, and as represented in the accompany ing drawings.

In my former invention the types were lifted from the channel ways of the case to be carried to what may be termed the composing-stick by a series of keyscorresponding with the types,the moving of the keys being made to performall the operations oflifting the types; but by my present invention the operation of lifting the types is performed automatically by the mode of operation of the mechanism which I have invented, the keys being operated by hand, simply to indicate the particular type to be lifted.

There is a series of holes, g made throughthe bottom of the case K, one leading to each channel-way and at the front end thereof. And

to these holes is fitted a series of lifters, h They are attached each to, and project upward from, the end of a lever, j They are springs, by preference made of thin steel, and when the case is removed from the comgosing-machine theylie in recesses formed in the edge or a plate, A and bear, by their elastic force, against the bottom of the said recesses. The lifters are guided into the holes g by the front end of the case, which projects a short distance below the bottom, and by small be'veled flanges A between the holes in the bottom of the case.

The levers j, to which the lifters 715*" are attarhed, vibrate on a fulcrumrod, B and each of the said levers is made hollow for some. distance from the end to which the lifter is attached, to receive a sliding piece, k, which slides therein freely, and which is drawn toward the fulcrum rod B by the tension of a spring, i Each of these slides k is formed with a projecting shoulder, so that it can be drawn out to the required distance to be acted upon by the lifting mechanism whenever any given letter is to be lifted. The keys M are arranged in four (more or less) rows of keys, each marked with the character of the type the lifting of which it is to control. They are so arranged in rows that the part to be touched by the operator may be wide enough while the levers of the four, side by side, will corre spond with the width of fourchannel-ways of the case, hence the number of rows may be varied so long as the levers are made to correspond with the case; The key-levers NU vibrate on a fulcrum-rod, M and each has an arm, on, about at right angles and extendin g up back of the shoulder of the slide In of the corresponding lever N. The front ends of the keys are held up by springs M and when any one of the keys is depressed its arm pulls the slide k' so that the end thereof. shall extend out and over a lifting-bar, n, so that when this is lifted by the mechanism the said lever j with the lifter h will be, elevated to force up a type out of the corresponding channelway of the case The liftingbar n is attached to the end oftwo arms, 0 o, of a rockshaft, 1), which rock-shaft has another arm, r (see Fig. 8,) which is acted upon'by a cam, g, on a cam-shaft, L; the said arm 0' being borne against the said cam by the tension of a spring, 5 so that the lifting operation is performed by the tension of the spring, the cam q simply controlling the lifting motion and restoring the parts to their original positions. The front end of each of the slides 7c is formed with a downwardprojecting lip, which extends over in front of the lifting-bar, so that it shall not be drawn back by its spring after it leaves the key-lever; and to prevent these parts from becoming disengaged in rapid motion it is locked to the lifting-bar by a pressure bar, M, above it, which is attached to the outer ends of two arms, M that are pivoted to the arms 0 0f the lifting'bar. The said pressure-bar M and the liftingbar n are connected by a spring, 0 (see Fig. 8,) the tension of which holds the slide k down onto, and with its lip'in front of, the liftingbar it until toward the, end of the descending motion of the lifting bar, when the pressure-bar is stop ped by suitable stops on the frame, that the liftingbar may be permitted to descend sulficiently below the slide k to permit it to be drawn back by its spring.

The arm r of the rock-shaft p is made in two parts, one with a sector mortise, and the other with a. wrist and fastening nut, as is well known to machinists.

0n the cam-shaft L there is a loose pulley,-

f (seel i 8 which receives a belt from some suitable motor, and the shaft can be clutched to and unclutched from the said pulley by a spring-clutch dog, 0 of similar construction to the clutch, before described, on the shaft E of the distributer. All the operations of lifting, transferring, and depositing a type in the stick are performed by one revolution of the said shaft L; and the spring-dog of the clutch is so combined with the keys M that so long as neither one of them is depressedthe shaft remains unclutched, and the mechanism remains at rest, but by the mere operation of depressing any one of the keys the shaft is clutched to the drivingpulley and the mechanism started. This is held in position, with its stop in contact with the arm of the cintclrdog C by the tension of a spring, (see Fig. 10,) and hence with the shaft unclutched; and this lever is drawn forward to liberate the clutch-dog by a stud, 3 on one of two parallel rods, a, which are adapted near their front ends to slide in suitable holes in the frame; and which at their front. ends carry a bar, it, which extends in front of the arms m of the key-levers, so that when any one of the keys i depressed its arm in will act against the said bar, and, by the connections described, liberate the clutch-dog, thereby clutching the shaft to the drivingpulley.

The rods a a are pivoted at their rear ends to two arms, w 10 of a rock-shaft, 12 which is provided with another arm, as, (see Fig. 8,) acted upon by a cam, 9 on the shaft L. The form of Ibis cam is such as to restore the stop-lever z, the bar t, and the keys to their original positions in case any of the springs should fail, but mainly to hold the keys, and prevent them from being depressed at any part of the rotation of the shaft, which might be injurious to the mechanism and, as the keys can only be depressed at the right time by reason of the said cam holding back the bar I? in contact with the front face of the arms w of the key-levers, it follows that an operator can in a short time so press upon the keys in succession, and thus feel, as it were, the proper time of depressing anyone of them, and thereby cause the operations to succeed each other without the necessity of 'unclutching the shaft at the end of'each rotation. The means of stopping are only to be resorted to in case of necessity. When a line of types has run out, it is important to notify the operator and to unclntch the shalt. When this takes place the follower r in that channelway of the type case is brought over the hole 9 in the bottom of the type-case, so that the corresponding lifter It cannot enter, and, in

consequence, the lifter-bar n cannot complete its upward motion; and,that the shaft-L may then be unclutched to stop the mechanism,

oneof the levers, 0 of the said lifter-bar is connected byarod,(l", (seeFig. 10,) with alever,

O, which hasa projecting stud that'lies in the. track of the arm of the clutch-dog O as it rotates with the shaft L, and which will unclutch it when it passes, unless the lifter-bar is at that time lifted up, so that if a lifter cannot enter theease to lift a type the shaft is unclutched and stopped, and at the time it is so unclutohed by this lever the cam 0 is in such a position that the keys cannot be depressed. K I

J ust over the front end of the type-case there is a guard-plate, t'*,(see Fig. 8,) so situated that none but the foremost typein each channel-way of the case can be lifted at any one operation, and for this purpose the front edge of this plate is notched 'to correspond with the different thickness of the types. The

under face of this plate is lined with VlllCflll- I ized india-rubber, or other equivalent mate rial, which will not injure the face of the types.

In my former invention this plate was stationary, and, as the lines of types weread vanced, in case of any slight projection of a type, it was liable to catch on the said plate. To avoid this difficulty, my present invention consists in giving a slightup-anddown vibratory motion to the said plate. For this purpose it is attached to two arms, 0 of a rockshaft, 0 providedat one endwith another arm, 0, which, by a spring, 0 is borne against the periphery of a cam, 0 on the shaft- L, which vibrates the said plate once for everyrevolution.

The types are lifted between the front edge of the guard-plate and the inner face of the end plate of the channel-ways into the typepassage above, which is formed by the inner face of a fixed plate, a, and a vibrating springplate, I), both surfaces forming a passage immediately over the w-holelength of that part of the type-case from which the types are to be lifted; and, as the types are of different thicknesses, one of the-plates must be selfadapting to each and every type which is In the machine as I described in my said patent of 1857 one of the plates was self-adapting by means of aspring at one end and'a joint at the other,, and at each operation it was moved sufii-i ciently far from the opposite and fixed plate to admit the thickest type; and as soon as the upper end of the type had entered the. passage the plate was liberated, so that by,

lifted into this passage.

the tension of the spring the type, of whatever thickness, would be griped between the two surfaces during its travel through the passage but in the said machine the two plates always preserved their parallelism in a vertical direction. 1

I have improved this part of the machine; and the said improvement consists in giving to the said spring or self-adapting plate, in addition to the motion described in my said patent of 1857, another motion, by which the type, as it is being lifted, is griped by the lower portion of the said plate, and, as it is traveling toward the delivery end of the said passage, it is griped most by the upper portion of the said plate.

The said gripin g or self-adapting plate I) is attachedby one end to an arbor, D, which has two journals, the one at its extreme outer end fitted to turn in a box, D (see Fig. 1,) and at the same time allow the other end of the said arbor to vibrate, and the other journal is near to the connection of the said arbor with the said plate b and to this journal is fitted a collar, 1), (see Fig. 10,) from which projects a stem fitted to slide in a socket in the upper end of an arm, D which vibrates on a fixed stud at D, and which, by a spring, D presses the self-adapting plate 1) toward the fixed plate, to gripe thetypes. The arbor can be connected with the said arm by a universal joint, or any other suitable connection. The

said arbor 1), near its outer end, has an arm, a

1) (see Fig. 1,) with a spring, D", attached,

the tension of which tends to hold the pressore-plate against a type with its upper edge making greater pressure than its lower. edge while the type is traveling along the passage and the plate is vibrated that its lower edge may make the greatest pressure as a type is being lifted, by a rock-shaft, U, (see Fig. 10, and dotted lines in Fig. 1,) with two arms, the one L being made to act on a pin on the arm D of the arbor, and the other being pivoted to one end of a-shaekle-bar, L forked" at the other end to slide on the shaft L, which guides it while it is acted upon by a cam, L on the saidsha-ft L. By this double motion of the sel-fadaptingplate the types are bettercontrolled as they are raised, and as they are carried along the passage, than by the means described inmy said patent of 1857.

After a type has been so elevated, and while it is griped in any part of the said passage, it is to be moved along the said passage to the delivery end thereof. This is effected by two instruments denominated shuttles, N.. Each shuttle is a plate a little thinner than the thinnest type, that it may slide freely in the passage while such a type is griped between the fixed and the self-adapting plates a. and I), and the upper part is formed with a slide on the upper surface of the fixed plate a.

The two shuttles are connected each by an arm, 1?, to one of two carriers, 9, which carriers are fitted to slide in ways h, one on each side of the type-passage, and the two carriers are reciprocated by a two-throw crank, I, on a shaft, i flso that they move in opposite di rections, one returning as the other is advanc ing, and as they both move in the same. pas sage when advancing for the return motion they are lifted out of the passage, so that th one that is returning passes over the one'tha is advancing. This is effected by having a projecting lip, q, on each shuttle, which on the return motion passes over into an elevated way, P, the front of which, 1, is curved and hinged, so that in the advance motion the said lip of the shuttle may lift it up to pass by it. In this way the shuttles alternate, one returning while the other is advancing and carryin g a type through the passage to the delivery end.

In the machine described in'my said patent of 1857, there was but one shuttle, and in consequence all the other operations had to be suspended during its return motion, and by reason of my present improvement I am enabled to deliver double the number of types in the same space of time. The crank-shaft i, which operates the shuttle, receives motion from the cam-shaft L by bevel cog-wheels 1, one on the cam-shaft and the other on an intermediate shaft, k, which carries a spur-pinion, in, that drives a spur-wheel, a, of double the diameter on the crank-shaft, which makes but one revolution to two of the cam-shaft. And to prevent breakage in case the shuttles should meet with any impediment, the spur-wheel n can turn on the crank-shaft, and is connected therewith by a spring-clutch, g, (see Fig. 8,)

held in the clutched position by the tension of a helical spring, 1), on the crank-shaft, but which can slip to permit the shaft to stop when either shuttle meets with an impediment.

The types are driven by the shuttles, one at a time, beyond the end of the fixed end pressure-plates a and-b into another passage, 0, (see Figs. 1 and 9,) at right angles to the one above described, the bottom 0 of which may be termed the stick as it, with one of its sides, takes the place of the stick used by compositors. And the sides of this passage are formed by two parallel plates, h and h', the space between them being sufficient to receive a line of types. There is a follower, 20", adapted to slide freely in this passage, the stock 10 of which slides on a fixed guide-rod, Q and it carries another rod, @0 that slides in suitable guide-holes in the frame, and on this rod there is an arm, Q adjustable thereon and secured by a temper-screw, and to this arm a weighted cord, Q, is secured, which passes over a roller, Q, which tends constantly to draw the follower toward that end of the passage 0 into which the types are delivered by the shuttles. In the shuttlepassage there is a spring, 8, just over the upper edge of the pressure-plate, the free end of which extends beyond the end of the shuttle-passage, and

into the cross-passage, to continue pressure on the type after it is transferred into the crosspassage and move against the follower 20 or the types previously delivered. And, so soon as a type has been so delivered into the crosspassage 0, it is pushed, and with it the follower w", to the extent of its thickness by a reciprocating plunger, t, that slides in suitable ways in the line of the said cross-passage. The forward end of this plunger is cut out to straddle the spring s, that it may act against the type above and below the said spring. The plunger is moved forward by the tension of a spring, a, (see Fig. 1,) to prevent breakage in case of any impediment to the type, and it is drawn back by a lever, t, the lower end of which is acted upon bya cam, Q, on the cam-shaft L, the form of the said cam being such as to control the forward movement at the time a typeis delivered by a shuttle, and to draw it back out of the way when the next type is delivered by the next shuttle. So soon as a line of types has been completed, and to prevent the operator from overrunning the line, the keys are locked and the shaft L. unclutched from the driving-pulley. This is effected by the arm Q on the rod 10 of the follower to before described, which is adjusted to the desired length of line of types, and which, on the completion of a line, strikes and moves a stop, Q on a rod, Q, pivoted to one end ofa lever, Q and the other end of the said lever releases a catch-lever, Q which is then drawn upward by its spring, Q, andbrings a notch, Q, on said catch-lever behind a pin, Q, on one of the rods of the guard-plate in front of the key-levers m, thus preventing the keys from being operated, and, at the same time and by the means previously described, unclutches the shaft L from the driving-pulleyf, thus stopping all the machinery. In Figs. 1 and 8 these parts are shown. v

. When the completed line of types has been transferred to the galley, as will be described presently, the follower w? is drawn back by its weight to its original position in the crosspassage, and, at the end of its back movement, the arm Q on its red w strikes another stop, Q, on the rod Q", and pulls it back, thereby vibrating the lever Q", the end of which, acting on an inclined face, (9,, on the catch-lever Q liberates the guard-plate, which is restored, and the mechanism put in condition for another series of operations.

After a line of types has been composed or set by the means above described, the line is to be transferred'to the galley 1, the bottom of which is on the same plane as the bottom of the passage 0, in which the line was composed. For this purpose the plate h, which forms the front side of the said passage, is lifted, so that the line of types can pass under its lower edge. Its ends are attached to two bars ofa frame, Q adapted to slide in ways in the main frame. It is held down by the tension of a spring, Q", (see Fig. 8,) and lifted at the required time by a lever, (U one end of which bears against the lower part of the sliding frame, and the other is acted upon by a cam, R", (see dotted lines in Fig. 8,) on a shaft, Q, parallel with the shaft L, andrwhich is driven, like'the other shaft, by a loose pulley, R that receives a band from aline shaft, and the shaft can be clutched to, or unclutched from, the said pulley by a spring-clutch dog similar to those above described.

Below the said plate It there is a narrow slot just sufficient to permit. lead to pass through it. Below the bedof the galley there is abox, R, (see Fig. 9,) to contain aseries of leads, and provided with afollower, R, which is made to slide" therein by a weighted cord: attached to its stem, R and passing over a loose pulley, It", to keep theforemost lead against the back face of the said box, and just And under the slot in the bed of the galley. the fra'me'Q is providedwit-h two thin plates,

R R fitted to slide in slots in the bottom of the box It, and. just under the foremost lead, so that 'whenthe said frame islit'ted to permit a lineof types to be transferred to the galley, a1

leadis lifted up in front of, and to be transferred to, the galley with the line of types.

The line of types is transferred from the crosspassage to the galley, after the plate h has been lifted by the plate" h, which forms the opposite side of the cross-passage. For this purpose this plate makes'part of a frame,

R which vibrates on journals at its lower end, and is held against a stop in theposition.

required while composing a line by the tensionof a spring, it, (see Fig. 8,) and to push the line of types onto the galley it is drawn forward against the tensionof its spring by a lever, 9 (see Fig. 8,)whichis acted upon at the required timeby a cam, fl ,on the shaftQ. When a line is completed, and the mechan ism by which it was composed is stopped, as already described, the operator depresses an extra keym, (see dotted-lines in Fig. 8,) which is on an arm, lt fiof a'rock-sh aft,y, which has another arm, R with a stop, f Thesaid key is'held up by "the tension of the spring Q", andin that positionthe stop on the other arm is against the spring'dog of the clutch (a on the shaft Q, which *isfthereby unclutched, and when the said key is depressed-the stop is removed from the dog, the shaft is clutched to the driving-pulley, and the required motions imparted to the mechanism to transfer the linepof types to the galley and restorethe parts-to commence another line and the key in the meantime having been liberated, theshaft at the end of one revolution is again unclutched and all the parts brought to a state of rest until again started by the depression of the key.

In the machine described in my said patent of 1857 there was no means for preventing a line from being overrun.

This was dependent entirely upon the attention and intelligence of the operator, and this part of my present invention consists in the organization of a mechanism by which the operations required for composing a line are stopped automatically so soon as a line is completed.v

Andin the machine described in my said patent of 1857, the operations. required for I transferring each line of types to the galley were all derived from a shaft to'be turned at the required time by the operator, which was a source of inconvenience; and this part of my present invention consists in controlling the shaft from which the required motions are derivetlfby a key,'so' that the operator is only required to touch the saidkey to. start or stop the'said mechanism by which the-said operations are performed. I 1

- Havin g thusdescribefd' the nature of my said invention, and the mode of construction. which I have tried with success, what lclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-'- I 1. The combinationof the lifting-plate, operated substantially as herein described, for liftin g the types to be distributed line by line,.the galley on which the types to be distributed are placed, and on which they are advanced toward 1 the lifting-plate, the mechanism, or the equivalent'thereof, by which the lifting-plate is operated, and the means, or the equivalent thereof, by which the depressing mechanism is connected with the driving power so soon as alineof types has been delivered to the distributing mechanism, and disconnected so soon as another line is to'be lifted, substantially as described.

2. The projecting lip on the face of the lifting-plate to draw down the leads, substantially as set forth, in combination with the sliding plate under the galley, substantially as described, to prevent the leads from dropping out before they are required to be delivered, as set forth.

3. In combination with the projecting lip on the face of the lifting-plate, the employment of a separate plate, which may be applied to or removed from the face of the lifting-plate and under the projecting lip, that the machine may be used for distributing either leaded or solid matter, substantially as described.

3 4. Theme-ans herein described for separating the types of various thickness one by and finally moves far enough to deliver the type to the distributer, the said instruments being operated by the mechanisms described, or equivalents therefor, as set forth.

5. The combs having a lateral reciprocating motion, substantially as described, in combination with the series of racks for the recep tion of the appropriate types, and the spring or self-adapting plungers and followers, which hold the types at each operation whilcthe combs are moved laterally, by means of which the types are shifted at each operation, and.

each type in turn presented to the several racks until it finds the one into which it can pass, the parts soclaimed in combination be 

